Read Proverbs 20 & 22

Read Proverbs 26:20 & 22  Did you know that what you say can really hurt someone?  It is true, we shouldn't let words hurt us, but they do.  Have you ever had someone say something that really hurt your feelings?  Not only were your feelings hurt, but you were mad at them for saying what they said.  But have you ever been the one who gossiped and hurt someone else?  Our second verse reminds us that the rude words that we might say to someone about someone else may eventually get around to the person that we were talking about.  And when they do, our friend will be hurt and we will be embarrassed.  But our first verse tells us how to avoid being embarrassed about what we have said.  In order to be a talebearer, there must be three people: one person who we are talking about, and another person to whom we are talking to.  The third person is us.  Our first verse reminds us that if we take away the wood from a fire, it will go out.  Wood in a fire burns up.  In order to keep the fire going, we have to keep putting wood on the fire.  So here is the key to stop talebearing: when someone brings a bit of gossip to you about someone else, just stop them and don't listen to them.  They might get mad at you, but they will not bring rude words to you.  You will put out the fire of talebearing.  They will soon realize that you are right and, your other friend will not have their feelings hurt.  Stop talebearing!  Stop gossip!  Be kind to others and guard your mouth.  God will be pleased, and so will your friends.